June 1654: An Ordinance for bringing the Publique Revenues of this Commonwealth into one Treasury.

June, 1654

[21 June, 1654.]

Whereas upon Consideration had, it is found necessary, That the Moneys and other payments arising by the Publique Revenues of this Commonwealth, or which shall be raised for the uses thereof, should be paid into one Treasury, to the end the same may from time to time the more readily be imployed and disposed as the occasions of the Commonwealth shall require.

That the Charges arising by the multiplicity of Treasuries and Receipts may be reduced, and the persons who shall be imployed in receiving the same, be brought to a due Accompt. And whereas also the Receipt of the Publique Exchequer at Westminster is judged most fit and convenient for that purpose.

The Receipt of the Exchequer of His Highness.; All Moneys shall be paid in thither.; For Payments, Tallies shall be levied.

Be it Ordained by His Highness the Lord Protector by and with the Advice and Consent of His Council, That from and after the four and twentieth day of June, one thousand six hundred fifty and four, the said Receipt shall be, and shall be called, The Receipt of the Exchequer of His Highness the Lord Protector, and shall be kept and executed in the usual and accustomed Places, Method, Maner and Way of Receipt of Exchequer as formerly. And that all and every Sum and Sums of Money, and other payments, which upon and after the said four and twentieth day of June, One thousand six hundred fifty and four, shall be received or taken, or shall become due or payable to, or for the use of His Highness the Lord Protector and the Commonwealth, by any Commissioner, Treasurer, Receiver, Collector, Sheriff, Bayliff, Steward, Escheator, or other Officer, Minister or Person, Bodies Politique or Corporate whatsoever, for any Fee-farm Rents, Quit-rents, Dry-rents, Out-rents, Annual Tenths either of the Laity or Clergy, or for first-fruits of the Clergy, or for or out of the Rents, Issues or Profits of any of the Honors, Manors, Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, Royalties, Franchises, or other Revenues certain or casual, Tithes Appropriate, Impropriations, or Rectories Impropriate, with their appurtenances, late of or belonging to the late King, Queen and Prince, Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Archdeacons and Deacons, in right of their Offices, as also of Delinquents and Recusants, or any of them, or for or in respect of any Debts due to the late King, Queen or Prince, or to the late Keepers of the Liberty of England by authority of Parliament, or forfeited by any the said Delinquents or Recusants to the Commonwealth, or for or in respect of any Composition, Contract or Sale of or for any the premises, or any part or parcel of them, or for or in respect of Customs and Subsidies upon Merchandizes, New Impost and Excise, Sale, or other Disposition of Prize-goods, or for or in respect of any Confiscation, Seizure, Forfeiture, Fine or other Penalty or Contempt, or upon or by any Judgement, Decree, Order or Award of any Court, Commissioners or Committee thereunto authorized; And all and every Sum and Sums of Money, and other Payments whatsoever, which upon the said four and twentieth day of June shall be due, and from thenceforth shall arise, accrew, or grow due or payable to His Highness and the Commonwealth, by or from any Person or Persons whatsoever, Bodies Politique or Corporate, by all or any the Ways and Means aforesaid, or by any other Ways or Means then are before specified, shall be paid unto the said Receipt of the Exchequer, by all and every the Person and Persons, Bodies Politique and Corporate, who shall receive, or be liable to pay the same, Any Law Statute, Ordinance or Order of Parliament, or any other matter or thing whatsoever to the contrary hereof, in any wise notwithstanding. For the payment of which Moneys, and every of them. Tallies levyed and allowed according to the usual and accustomed course of the Exchequer, with the Alteration of the words upon the Tally from Latine to English, shall be to every Person and Persons, Bodies Politique and Corporate, so paying, and their Successors, Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assignes respectively, sufficient Acquittance and Discharge.

Moneys to be issued by such as by Letters Patents shall be appointed.; Fees, Wages and Allowances to be contained in the Letters Patents.

And be it further Ordained and Declared by the Authority aforesaid, That from and after the said four and twentieth day of June, the said Receipt of the Exchequer of His Highness the Lord Protector, shall be governed and ordered; and the Moneys therein from time to time being and remaining, and to be there paid as aforesaid, shall be received and kept, and charged and accompted for, and also issued and paid out (by Warrant, as is herein and hereby declared) according to the ancient method, usage and practice of the Receipt of the Exchequer, by such Person and Persons, Officer and Officers onely, and no other then such as His Highness the Lord Protector shall from time to time, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal, constitute and appoint. And that every Person and Persons, Officer and Officers to be hereafter in that behalf so constituted and appointed as aforesaid, shall and may from time to time have, use, exercise and enjoy all and every the like lawful Powers, Priviledges, Preheminences and Authorities, in relation to his and their several Offices and Places, and the execution thereof, as any other Person or Persons, Officer or Officers of the Receipt of the Exchequer at Westminster, in the Administration or Execution of their or any of their Offices or Places at any time heretofore lawfully have, or of right might have, had, used or enjoyed. And shall have and receive for and in respect of his and their execution of, and attendance in and upon his and their said Offices and Places respectively, such moderate Fees, Wages, Rewards and Allowances onely, as His Highness the Lord Protector, with the advice and consent of His Council, by the said Letters Patents, shall think fit to limit and appoint.

Such as shall take more, shall forfeit their places and treble as much.

And be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Person or Persons, Officer or Officers so authorized as aforesaid, shall at any time directly or indirectly upon any pretence whatsoever, by color of such his or their Office or Imployment, take or receive any other or greater Fee or Fees, Sum or Sums of Money, or other Gift, Reward or Gratuity whatsoever, that then all and every such Person and Persons, Officer and Officers shall upon proof or confession thereof before His Highness Council, forfeit and lose his and their Place and Places, Office and Offices; and the Letters Patents in that behalf shall from thenceforth become void. And all and every Person and Persons, Officer and Officers so offending, shall also forfeit and pay treble the value of such Fee or Fees, Sum or Sums of Money, Gift, Reward or Gratuity unto such Person and Persons, as shall sue for the same by Bill, Plaint or Information in any Court of Record.

No moneys to be paid out but by Warrant under the Great or Privy Seal.

And be it further Ordained, That all and every the Sum and Sums of Money, which from and after the said four and twentieth day of June, shall be brought and paid into the said Receipt, shall be from time to time thence issued and paid by Warrant and Authority under the Great Seal, or under the Privy Seal, and not otherwise.

But as to the issuing of the Money mentioned in the nine and twentieth Article of the Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, the same shall not be granted but by Consent of Parliament, or of the Lord Protector and major part of the Council, in the Intervals of Parliaments.

This not to extend to Ireland.

Provided, That this Ordinance, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend to any the Revenues of Ireland, or Moneys raised there for the Publique use, until His Highness the Lord Protector, or His Council, shall give order therein.

Nor to the Revenues of the Lord Protector, or His Successors in any other Capacity.

Provided also, That this Ordinance, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend to any the Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, Revenues or Possessions of, or belonging to His Highness the Lord Protector, or His Successors Lords Protectors, in any other Capacity then as Lord Protector onely.